Chapter 1 - The Secret

I step inside the tiny garden nook that’s lit only by firefly glow, admiring the white roses that climb all over the walls. I lower my face to a bloom, admiring its thick spicy scent, completely distracted as my fingers drift over the silky petals.

So I don’t notice the shadow that blocks my only exit until I hear his growl behind me.

I twist, surprised –

And my stomach drops when I see the gigantic Alpha standing a few feet away. Six and a half feet tall, he’s built like he’s made from granite, with wide, muscular shoulders above a powerful form. The beauty of his brutal face is marred by a scar that passes through his left eyebrow, continuing down his cheek to disappear into his thick beard.

That flaw in no way takes away from the raw power emanating from this Alpha, who is as much beast as he is man.

He levels a dangerous glare at me, prowling forward into the light that glints off of the finely wrought golden crown that sits on his head, tangling in the wild hair that falls to his shoulders.  

“I remember you,” the Alpha King growls, his hand like iron on my arm as he pulls me roughly against him so that my chest is pressed to his. I gasp as his other hand tilts my face up, his palm so large it covers my entire chin and cheek. Too scared to move or speak, I keep perfectly silent and still as he scents the air around me. “Your scent has…changed,” he snarls, looking me in the eye. “But you were here before. Yes?”

I have no idea what to say, but he shakes me, impatient, so I stumble something out. “I was…friends,” I stutter. “With your former Queen, Angeline. Years ago.”

The growl in the King’s chest deepens and I press my eyes closed, flinching away from him.

“No,” he snaps, giving me another little shake. “Look at me, girl.” I do as I am told, opening my eyes and looking up at him, my mouth open, my lower lip shaking in fear. The brute command of the King has always made me anxious, but now? Tonight? When he’s almost the last person I want to see? I can’t help the tremors that streak through my limbs.

“Good,” he murmurs, his hand moving over my face now, feeling the shape of it. Slowly, terribly, he drags his thumb over my lower lip, pulling me closer, growling with –

Oh my god. Growling with pleasure at what he sees and feels.

I go rigid in his arms, becoming suddenly aware of the heat of him against me, of the…the hardness of him that I can feel pressing against my stomach through my gown.

I gasp, struggling suddenly, trying to get away – doing anything to break out of his grasp - but he just laughs at me, pinning me against him.

“A flighty one,” he murmurs, still staring down at me, pleased. “Should I let you free, little doe? Chase you down in the forest? Pin you down in the pine needles? Is that what you want? To Run?”

I freeze, my eyes going wide as I stare up at him, my mind blank when I search for solutions, for an answer, for anything –

He laughs at me again. “Well,” he says, leaning close so I can hear his sensuous hiss, “then do it.”

And then, to my shock, he releases me.

I blink once, still staring at him, and my mouth falls open. But he slides his hands cooly into his pockets and glowers at me, his eyes lit with some wicked light under his lowered brows.

“Well? What are you waiting for,” he asks, his voice low with cunning. “Run.”

And I bolt.

My muscles pulse and carry me forward before I can decide otherwise and suddenly I’m past him, my legs working in a fury to run –

Run –

As hard and as fast as I can.

But it’s not fast enough.

____________________

**2 Hours Earlier**

I can’t help but roll my eyes as the sun takes its final peek over the summer palace, casting a golden glow on the marble steps that my sister and I climb.

God, I hate this place.

Ridiculous, I think, balling my hands in the dark blue silk of the gown my mother chose. It’s all ridiculous, and such a waste –

“Oh, come on,” my little sister jeers, laughing as we make our way towards the Celestial Entrance. “You’re writing every single one of your emotions right on your face, Everleigh – can you tone it down a little? Some of us,” she says, gesturing to herself, wrapped in gorgeous rose silk, “actually want to meet some eligible Alphas tonight.”

I give Callista a little glare out of the corner of my eye but, for her sake, I hold my skirts lightly and wipe my expression. “Happy now, Calli?” I ask, giving her a broad fake smile.

“Yes!” she quips, giving me a real grin in return. I sigh, letting my face drop.

“Why do you even want that, Calli?” I murmur as we continue our way up the endless staircase. “Tied to one of those puffed-up jerks for the rest of your life? I mean -“

Calli laughs at me a little, shaking her head in amazement. “Listen, Evie,” she says, “not all of us want to live by a little cottage by the sea, alone, isolated from everyone, running around collecting shells with our secret illicit chil-“

“You shut your mouth!” I hiss, glaring at her again and looking around to make sure she wasn’t heard.

Callista rolls her eyes at me this time, but she does hush up. We’re getting close to the entrance anyway – near enough for one of the other guests, or the Gammas, to hear. And we both know that above all things, I’ve got to keep my secret precisely that.

A secret.

The Gamma waiting for us at the top of the stairs bows low as we reach him.

“Celestials,” he murmurs. “Your names?”

“De Silva,” I say dispassionately. “Callista,” I continue, indicating my dark-haired sister. “And Everleigh.” I drop my hand, letting him puzzle out that the second name is mine.

The Gamma nods and scribbles the names down on a piece of paper, handing it to a child who runs to the man standing inside at the top of the grand staircase.

That done, the Gamma bows low, gesturing towards the wide patio where we can wait to be announced to the court waiting in the ballroom below.

“Okay,” Callista says, anxiously straightening her bodice and shaking back her hair. “How do I look?”

“Beautiful,” I say, meaning it as I cock my head to the side and consider her in the last rays of the summer sun. I don’t even have to exaggerate to make her feel confident – my little sister, with her trim waist and her shining chestnut hair – such a contrast to my blonde - is absolutely stunning tonight. “The King would be an idiot not to grab you the moment he lays eyes on you and declare you his next Queen.”

Callista bites her lip and gives a little wiggle of excitement, glancing towards the doorway. It will be her first time entering the summer palace, and I don’t blame her for being excited. After doing it maybe a hundred times, though, it’s lost a bit of its charm for me.

The Gamma at the door nods to Callista, letting her know she’ll be next. She gives me an impulsive kiss on the cheek before hurrying through the door. I sigh as I watch her go.

My little sister thinks she’s going to a ball tonight, but really? She’s going to a meat market. All I can do is hope her sweet little heart doesn’t get ground to pieces in the first fifteen minutes we’re here.

I lean against the pillar at the top of the stairs once Callista is gone, crossing my arms over my chest and waiting my turn. Honestly, I had thought I was done with all of this nonsense – the balls, the courtships, the Alphas sniffing after females like panting hounds. It’s all a ridiculous act, a game that I retired from five years ago after eight breathless months here with my best friend, Angeline. She had been the King’s short-lived second wife then, and once she was gone…well, I’d had no reason to come back.

And two very big reasons to stay away.  

And I’ve been happy with my new life away from all of this - really, blissfully happy - until about a month ago when the King’s summons arrived. One stupid ivory invitation, with one horrible demand.

All eligible Alpha-Born women are invited to attend the King’s Solstice Celebration.

Invited, it had said, as if we weren’t obligated to be here. Three nights of dancing, feasting, and debauchery, all because the King’s third Queen died six months ago and he’s already hungry for another. Apparently, the three children that his third wife had given him weren’t enough – he’s still hungry for more.

And since he’s already declined to wed all of the eligible women at his court, he’s now calling in reinforcements from the country, requiring all available Celestials of marrying age to be present.

Apparently, he wants a buffet of choices. It all makes me want to vomit.

The Gamma at the door raises his hand to me, interrupting my thoughts and letting me know that it’s my turn. Sighing, I stand up and straighten my spine, steeling myself. “Just a few hours,” I murmur to myself. “Then you can go home to your real life.”

God, if I only knew, in that moment, just how wrong I was.